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Poetic Justice

"Poetic Justice" starring Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Regina King and Joe Torry, is “a street romance” centering on the lives of two couples as they travel from L.A. to Oakland in a postage truck.

The plot is brilliant in its simplicity -— merely the happenings of a road trip along the California coast. That leaves plenty of room to delve into the background of each character. Justice (Jackson) is remembering how to love after mourning a lost first love. Lucky (Shakur) is rethinking his plans for himself and his family (including a young daughter and “baby mama drama”). Lesha (King) must confront her own bad habits -— in life and in men. And for Chicago (Torry), the road trip is revealing into his true nature.

Characters are explored through relatively concise dialog in the confined space of the postal truck. Because the plot and space of the film is more intimate, this film has the feel of a play, with the changing scenery of California’s coast as a backdrop. Along the way, we stop at a Black family reunion, rest and truck stops, and an African/African-American cultural festival. By the time each character reaches their destination, their lives (and perspectives) have changed, making the story and the characters truly dynamic.

The performances were impressive, considering more than half the cast were musicians, not actors. Jackson and Shakur were both prominent recording artists at the time of the film’s release (1993), and Q-Tip played Jackson’s ex.

John Singleton made the Black life literally poetic, as Maya Angelou’s poetry was interspersed throughout the film (and she herself made a cameo). The scenery of the film, whether rural or urban, was beautiful and poignant.

That this film has become a legend within its genre is reason enough to own it, but it’s also just entertaining.

Written by: Katherine E. Webb

Reviewers Rating: 8.5
Reader's Rating: 10.00
Reader's Votes: 1

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